It's pretty easy to find money-saving tips for once you're inside the park — bring your own snacks, get water instead of soda, utilize a Disney Rewards credit card — but something that's not as easy to know how to save money before you even go on your trip.

When you buy your tickets will make a big difference in cost, so here are some of the best times to buy Disney park tickets in order to get the best deal.

1/

Buy tickets before you go.

This probably seems like a no-brainer, but many people still have the misconception that tickets will be cheaper if they buy them at the gate. That is, 99% of the time, just not true. There are other Disney adventures that do reward last-minute purchases. Disney Cruises, for example, drop the price of unfilled rooms drastically right before sailing. But parks just aren't one of those things.

Buy your tickets in advance, and you can also start planning your FastPass+ reservations.

2/

Buy when your child is under three or under 10.

You can get some great deals.
Handout/Getty Images

Children under 3-years-old get free park entrance and don't require a dining plan, while children under 10 receive a marginally lower rate on each. Buying tickets before your kid hits one of these milestones will definitely save you a good chunk of money.

It's worth noting that if your child turns three or 10 during your trip, you're not required to pay any extra money, as long as they were underage when the trip started. So if you've been on the fence about when to go, a birthday trip might be your answer.

3/

Buy when you can stay multiple days.

Disney offers significant discounts for multi-day tickets, and the longer your trip, the more money you'll save. There's a chart over on the Disney ticket page that can help you figure out the pricing structure.

Take a look at the ticket chart below for an example of the pricing structure.

4/

Buy when Disney is offering a special.

Disney offers special discounts for stays during their off-season times which are scattered throughout the year. It's a safe bet that you'll be able to find a discount in late winter, late spring, and late summer-fall, though you'll want to research specific dates before you buy.

Occasionally vacation packages will also include a Free Dining Plan. The Free Dining dates for 2018 haven't been announced yet, but anyone who's paid for a week's worth of food at Disney knows that this is definitely a deal worth grabbing.

5/

Buy during "Value Days"

Ticket prices vary now more than ever before.
Disney Parks

Disney recently adopted "surge pricing," which has led to a lot of variation in their daily ticket prices. Weekdays and off-season tickets are now much lower than those for weekend and holiday tickets. For example, on a peak day, you may spend $124 for a ticket to the Magic Kingdom, but on a value day, the price would drop to $110. When buying for several days and several people, that definitely adds up.

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